Enhancing diabetes management in rural and remote areas through academic-clinical partnership: an innovative workshop model for primary healthcare professionals

Abstract

Background: Diabetes has a greater impact on people living in rural and remote Australia because of limited access to specialist diabetes services and ongoing workforce shortages. Primary healthcare professionals in these regions play a central role in diabetes care, but they often lack targeted training and professional support. Innovation: This project introduced a co-designed, face-to-face workshop model to build clinical skills, strengthen confidence in culturally responsive communication and foster professional networks among rural healthcare workers. Developed through an academic-clinical partnership with health organisations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the workshops used evidence-based teaching methods to improve professional development tailored to the realities of rural primary healthcare needs. Methods: Two full-day workshops took place in Queensland and New South Wales in 2024. A pretest-posttest survey design was used to evaluate the workshops, assessing changes in clinical confidence and professional engagement. Of 120 participants, 73 completed post-workshop surveys, and 48 provided matched pre- and post-workshop data. Impact: Participants reported substantial increases in clinical confidence, particularly in using diabetes technologies (+72.4%) and understanding recent advances (+66.5%). Notably, 96.3% reported enhanced professional connections, with 87.0% intending to maintain them post-workshop. High levels of participants' satisfaction and partner support highlight the model's potential for broader implementation. Conclusion: This innovative workshop model addresses critical gaps in diabetes care training for rural health professionals by integrating clinical education, culturally responsive communication skills and opportunities for peer support. It offers a sustainable approach to rural health workforce development that aligns with national rural health priorities, and supports quality improvement in primary health care.